What is the derivative of #5^tanx#?

1 Answer
Jul 17, 2015

Let's derive what the derivative is, because I don't remember what it is (yet).

#log_5(y) = log_5(5^tanx) = tanx#

Change of Base law:
#(lny)/(ln5) = tanx#

#lny = tanx ln5#

Implicit Differentiation:
#1/y((dy)/(dx)) = ln5 * sec^2x#

#(dy)/(dx) = y[ln5 * sec^2x]#

#= color(blue)(5^(tanx)[ln5*sec^2x])#

Yep, there it is. So then the general derivative is:

#color(green)(d/(dx)[b^u] = b^u*lnb*(du)/(dx))#

(see how you can just figure it out without remembering it? It's a trick.)